Every Child Matters faces biggest test

Labour has not been terribly forthcoming in setting out its vision for taking the ECM agenda forward in this election campaign. Indeed, much of the debate and manifesto commitments of all political parties are framed along traditional silos of education, health and crime and safety - although families and parenting are firmly on their agendas.

So what about the Conservatives, who Ed Balls claims will "drive a coach and horses" through the reforms? While they are committed to ECM as the best framework to improve young lives, shadow children's secretary Michael Gove's determination to abolish obligations for local children's trusts will do nothing to advance effective practice. Gove's fervent desire to lift pupils' attainment is sound, but his resolve to do so by allowing schools "freedoms" from local authorities is not, since it divorces schools from other services essential to boosting children's outcomes. And the Tories' repeated assertion to "take Sure Start back to its original purpose" of serving the neediest families does not guarantee it will be available for every child.